Dontre Hamilton's Family Remains Hopeful of Impartial Federal Probe

Dontre Hamilton's Family Remains Hopeful of Impartial Federal Probe

The family of Dontre Hamilton told reporters that they believe former Officer Christopher Manney might still be charged, despite Milwaukee authorities announcing that the police shooting was in self-defense.

Published December 23, 2014

(Photo: AP Photo/Family photo courtesy of Dameion Perkins)

Update: Dec. 23, 2014, 11:30 a.m.

The family of Dontre Hamilton told reporters that they hope the federal investigators conduct a more objective review of the Milwaukee man’s death than local authorities and consider all the evidence, AP reports.

"I think we'll get a better look. I want to be confident in it, but, right now, I cannot put my trust in the system,” Dontre’s brother, Nate Hamilton, reportedly said.

At a separate new conference, the family advised the protesters who were condemning the exoneration of Dontre’s police shooter to remain peaceful. But, as AP reports, Nate said his family had “cried too long” and does not have to “be the voice of reason.”

"We need to stop the violence in our communities so we can get rid of these pigs that kill us," he said to applause. "Because that's what they are. They feed, they feed off of us. And we can't let them do that no more.”

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Fired Milwaukee officer Christopher Manney will not be charged in the May shooting death of Dontre Hamilton, a mentally ill Black man, the Milwaukee County District Attorney said Monday.

Officials say Manney used "justified self-defense." The decision comes after feds and experts took several months to review the evidence, the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinelreports.

"Based on all the evidence and analysis presented in this report, I come to the conclusion that Officer Manney's use of force in this incident was justified self-defense and that defense cannot be reasonably overcome to establish a basis to charge Officer Manney with a crime," District Attorney John Chisholm said Monday.

Manney, 38, reportedly encountered Hamilton, 31, sleeping in Red Arrow Park and proceeded to pat him down. According to Police Chief Edward Flynn, Hamilton resisted and fought with Manney before hitting the cop’s neck with his own baton. Manney then shot Hamilton 14 times, killing him.

The family of the schizophrenic man called for criminal charges for the cop and advocated for better resources and protection for mentally ill people in October. The department fired Manney in October stating that he disregarded department procedures by instigating a fight with an emotionally disturbed person.

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